The era of cars without drivers | January 13, 2023
Also, shared micromobility market generating $90 billion by 2030, Acer’s new eKinekt BD 3 bike desk, and Oxbotica secures $140 million in its Series C funding round.
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Micromobility
Electric bikes have changed the idea of urban mobility, urging people to shift from traditional biking to e-biking, and with their rising popularity, there is a need for more protected bike lanes in the future / Planetizen
Meet Ali Abdo, who broke the official Guinness world record for the longest journey by an electric bike on his Energica EVA EsseEsse9! His goal was to educate youth on climate change issues and promote sustainable mobility / VisorDown
The thrilling feeling of instant acceleration of a high-powered vehicle, especially an EV, is appealing to drivers, but that might not be the case for pedestrians, bicyclists, and other road users in an urban environment, and now, it has caught the attention of automotive safety regulators as well / Bloomberg
In light of their new study, McKinsey & Company, a global management consulting company, stated that the shared micromobility market is likely to generate a revenue of up to $90 billion by 2030, i.e., a 40% increase in revenue each year from 2019 to 2030. Policies are needed to support this micromobility transition / ZAGDaily
Electric vehicles are not just about speed and zero emissions. Underlining this statement, companies like General Motors, Ford, Google, Sunrun, and SunPower joined forces to promote the idea of Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) where clean energy can be exchanged between EVs and the grid when needed / Electrek
Product Launches & Updates
Meet Afeela, a prototype electric sedan unveiled at CES 2023. A shared brand under Sony and Honda, this EV will be a combination of autonomy, entertainment, and safety, providing it all under one roof / TechCrunch
Lectric eBikes is going all out with their new electric Lectric XP Trike! This e-trike features specs like a central hub motor to drive both rear wheels, hydraulic brakes, a fully-foldable design, and a 14Ah battery with a mind-boggling low price of $1,499 / Electrek
Acer is bringing work and exercise together at your desk with its eKinekt BD 3 bike desk! The first of its kind, this bike desk utilizes the kinetic energy generated from pedaling to charge your laptop, taking working from home to a whole new level / CNET
Verge Motorcycles is rolling out Verge TS, its new radical electric motorcycle! The company introduced this electric superbike at CES 2023 with a hubless design that supports smooth handling and an adventurous riding experience at the same time! / PowerSports Business
Have you ever placed your bike under your desk? Icoma, a Japanese startup, is all set to make it possible with its multipurpose new Tatamel electric bike! Presented at CES, this e-bike can be transformed into a suitcase and can charge your electronic devices if needed / CNET
Ridehailing, Carsharing & Delivery
Free2move, a global mobility operator, announced at CES its plans to branch out its car-sharing, rental, and subscription services in the U.S. in 2023. The brand, under automaker Stellantis, aims to add 200 new mobility markets by 2030 / TechCrunch
IKEA’s SunRider got through the delivery trial period! Capable of carrying 90 percent of the product range, the solar-powered e-cargo trike will soon be available in all IKEA stores around the globe / ebike tips
Get ready to get your goods delivered by Faction in an autonomous electric vehicle in the San Francisco Bay Area! Already providing services for Cocola Bakery, the driverless technology company aims to expand its commercial customer list in the future / InsideEVs
Investment & Deals
The UK government has committed to a greener and more efficient transportation network with their recent pledge of 7 million GBP in funding for the rollout of innovative technologies that will help decarbonize freight. This initiative signals an important step towards reducing emissions while keeping Britain's transport system up-to-date / FutureTransport
Cabify, a Spanish ride-hailing company, plans to list its shares in the next 12 to 15 months, reports local news site El Confidencial. According to the Spanish news outlet, the company's valuation would be close to 2 billion euros ($2.2 billion) / Reuters
Oxbotica, an Oxford-based autonomous vehicle software startup, just secured a whopping $140 million in its Series C funding round. The funds are slated to power this innovative company's breakthrough operating system into various industries, including agriculture and airports, as well as areas such as energy production and shared passenger transportation / Tech.eu
Volvo recently acquired full ownership of Zenseact, a Swedish-based software developer specializing in Artificial Intelligence. This move will enable Volvo and Polestar cars to become the first models on the market equipped with automated driving capabilities stemming from Zenseact's cutting-edge technology. Despite taking over majority shareholding, Volvo has committed that Zenseact shall continue as an independent entity at its helm of delivering innovations for road safety and driver assistance systems / E&T Engineering and Technology
Cities & Policy
Boston, Denver, and Detroit have tapped into the potential of two-wheeled transport to revolutionize urban mobility. From building a safe cycling network to investing in bike share programs - these cities are leading the charge on paving new paths forward for improving everyday city life / Momentum
Urban politicians should be proactive in transforming city mobility by utilizing traffic to make transport more sustainable. Instead of focusing on temporary solutions to congestion, Phineas Harper proposes that cities invest resources into green transportation and actively dismantle car infrastructure / Deezen
For decades, transportation planners have known that widening highways won't permanently lower congestion. However, many states continue to add asphalt instead of considering alternative options / The NY Times
Colorado residents could soon be incentivized to switch from gas-heavy vehicles to electric bikes due to a major new state initiative. The program may offer savings on taxes in addition to environmental sustainability and offering up to $500-$1000 rebates off e-bike purchases / CPR News
New York City has taken a giant step to reduce emissions. With $10.1 million from the federal government, it will replace nearly 1,000 gas-powered vehicles with electric versions and make an incredible contribution towards environmental protection for its citizens today and future generations to come / Smart Cities Dive
New Products, Features, and Data Points
Tesla's recent decision to remove a driver monitoring feature from their Full Self-Driving (FSD) Beta has caught the attention of regulators and sparked debate about its implications for automated vehicle safety / Electrek
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